What is ISO AND WHITE BALANCE Paula Alveal

What is ISO AND WHITE BALANCE? Paula Alveal The Grange School

ISO �ISO stands for International Organisation for Standarization. �In very basic terms, ISO is the level of sensitivity of your camera to available light. The lower the ISO number, the less sensitive it is to the light, while a higher ISO number increases the sensitivity of your camera. �The component within your camera that can change sensitivity is called “image sensor” or simply “sensor”.

ISO NUMBERS � Typically, ISO numbers start from 100 -200 (Base ISO) and increment in value in geometric progression (power of two). So, the ISO sequence is: 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400 and etc. �ISO 200 �ISO 3200 less sensitive, doesn’t add “noise” to the picture really sensitive, adds “noise” to the picture

How is it used? �Higher ISO numbers are generally used in darker situations to get faster shutter speeds – however the cost is noisier shots. �Lower ISO numbers are used when there’s plenty of light and the result is less noisier shots.

Examples ISO 100 ISO 200 ISO 6400 ISO 3200

White Balance � White Balance is really simple; is nothing more than an adjustment to get the color you want. � Images can have a different ‘color’ (or temperature) according to the white balance you use. Fluorescent lighting adds a bluish cast to photos whereas tungsten (incandescent/bulbs) lights add a yellowish tinge to photos. The range in different temperatures goes from the very cool light of blue sky through to the very warm light of a candle.

Adjusting White Balance �Different digital cameras have different ways of adjusting white balance so ultimately you’ll need to get out your camera’s manual out to work out the specifics of how to make changes.

Preset White Balance Settings �Auto this is where the camera makes a best guess on a shot by shot basis. �Tungsten this mode is usually symbolized with a little bulb and is for shooting indoors, especially under incandescent lighting (such as bulb lighting). It generally cools down the colors in photos. �Fluorescent this compensates for the ‘cool’ light of fluorescent light and will warm up your shots.

�Daylight/Sunny not all cameras have this setting because it sets things as fairly ‘normal’ white balance settings. �Cloudy this setting generally warms things up a touch more than ‘daylight’ mode. �Flash the flash of a camera can be quite a cool light and it warms up your shots a bit. �Shade the light in shade is generally cooler (bluer) than shooting in direct sunlight so this mode will warm things up a little.

Examples Daylight Tungsten Cloudy